Means for practicing golf



June Y5, 1928.

L. D. SHINN ET AL.

MEANS FOR PRACTICING GOLF "Filed April 4, 1.928

Inl/e v r6: Zaaurenoe Z. Skv/'jaw and M1277- g/7220, @am www Cil Patented June 5, 1928. l

UNITED- LAWRENCE D. it. y

smarriti 'wasanircrom msnm or applicativa "aled- An object of the vvinvention is to produce al device suitable for practicing .the usevf iron and woodengeiltv clubs indoors,lor` within a restricted area. Another object is to 'struct a device which willnot injure the'surface on which `it is'usecLsueh asa wvacnm carpeted floor. ,Another object is-to construct la' device which ec'stsyliittle to manufacture and which' isI liable to et out oforder. Another object is to pro uce a device for the indoor practice ot golf which requires a minimum of space in use. Another object is to construct a device for teachf ing the indoor practice of golf which consists of a ball attached to a plurality of graduated weights, which progressively retard the ight of the ball and bring the same to rest after it has been struck by a striking implement, such as a golf club. Other objects will appear hereinafter.

Figure l is a side elevation of our invention, without the protective covering, and on a reduced scale.

Figure 2 is a detailed plan view of our invention, partly in section, and on a reduced scale.

Figure 3 is an partly in section. v

Our invention broadly consists of a vcaptive ball secured by a flexible connection to a flexible system of graduated weights, to the end that the flight of the ball, after being struck by the club will be progressively retarded and nally brought to rest, withinv a few feet from where it has been struck. Preferablyv attached to the system of graduated weights is a captive tee. The whole assemblage provides `an apparatus whereby the practice of golf with both wooden and iron clubs may be obtained within any ordinary room, or in fact, an place Where there is room to swing the clu s. y f

Referring to the drawings, the' numeral 1v indicates a captive ball which may be constructed of materialnow used in the construction of golf balls, or it may be made of wood, cotton, or solidor hollow rubber. Attached to the ball l is a flexible connection 2. The numeral 3 indicates a tee of any preferred construction, which has attached to it a flexible connection 4. There is provided a iiexible member 5, to which are xed by any suitable means a plurality of graduated weights indicated by the numerals 7, 8 and 9. On one end of the flexible enlarged ldetailed view,

ber may be employed, the members 7 being "5 is attached a loop or eye 6, to

which are attached the other 'ends `of they members 2 and 4.., weights 7, 8 land 9 are-'enclosed in a covering'lO. to prevent damage ftoiearpets or lturnitin"e and 5to deadenthe noise occasioned during theJ practice of the device-1. 'The Yshapeof the ycovering l()` is such that' it vis tanger .etoile endiand gradually bewmds ysimvtieauat- :the other; fend, ais to snugly enclose the graduated Weights. Means 11 are provided for closing the smaller end of the covering 10. Similar means, not shown, may be provided at the other end of said member l0. .The covering l0 may be constructed of any suitable flexible material, such as leather or cloth. The flexible connections 2 and 4 and the flexible member 5 may be constructed of cord, chain or wire, or other material. Although we prefer to attach the tee 3 to the eye 6, such connection is not necessary, and the tee may be used unattached to the weights or ball.

We have found in practice that after the ball is struck, it first picks up the rst weight and then, within a few inches more of flight, picks up the second and the others in series,

until finally the progressive retardation ot the weights will bring the ball to rest within a few eet from where it has been struck.

We have found that there is very little danger of any of the connections becoming broken, even after long use, due to the fact that the ball, after iirst being struck and when it is moving at its fastest, picks up the lightest Weight first and the number and size of the weights gradually increases as the flight continues, until its flight is arrested. In the drawings We have shown the weights being made of 3 series, but any suitable numof equal weight, the members 8 being o slightly greater weight and the members 9 being of yet greater weight. However, We may employ a series of weights, each of which is a little heavier than its preceding weight. The weights may be strung on the flexible memberor may be attached to it by any suitable means.

It is to be. understood that the drawings and descriptionv herewith have been given merely for illustrative purposes and we desire to be limited only to the extent indi-I cated by the appended claims.

What we desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for practicing golf, consisting of a ball, a flexible connect-ion having one of its ends attached to said ball and its other end connected to a plurality of graduated Weights.

2. A device for practicing golf, consisting of a ball, a plurality of graduated Weights, a flexible connection, means for connect-ing one endv of said iexible connection tosaid ball and means for connecting its other end toy a .plurality of graduated-Weights, and a covering for said Weights.

3; In a device of they class described, a ball, a plurality of diierential Weights, atea and flexible means for connecting said parts.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a ball, a plurality offgraduatedweight members and means for exibly connecting Said members with each other, meansv for connecting the ball With the Weight connectingmeans and a tee having a flexible device joined tothe last named connection. f

5. In a device of the class described, a ball, a iexib'le member, a plurality of diflferential Weights attached to said flexible member, said iiexible member having means for spacing said differential Weights from each other, anda flexible connection ,having its terminals connected with said ball and Weights. u

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands this 2nd day of April A. D. 1,928.

LAWRENCE D.- SHINN. y ARTHUR T. SHINN. f 

